boca da pilot

Want an update to this topic.

How is the schedule of an Airline Pilot? I assume starting out the schedule sucks due to reserve time. As your seniority increases, what does the schedule look like? Are you gone from home 4 days straight; how much are you away from home? What does the average week, or month, look like for an Airline Pilot? Is it as bad as everyone says?

Thanks.

say again

It varies quite a bit.

galaxy flyer

To say it varies is a very large understatement---freighter, passenger, seniority, domestic, international is only a beginning. It's a lifestyle all its own.

GF

say again

Correct. RSV, 1,2,3,4 day trips. Morning/afternoon starts, commute or live at base, etc, etc. It's a long list.

Swedish Blender

10-15 day trips also. Not just at the cargo companies. I believe DAL has 2 week Pac Rim trips

LNL76

You guys left out charter. You can be gone for weeks, even months if TDY'ed.

PerfInit

Think of it this way-

You will spend HALF your working life away from home, loved ones, etc.

PotatoChip

Within my company it varies from 35 days gone and 20 home to guys who are never gone more than 6 days.
I'm currently on a 15-day trip followed by 11 days off. However, between Dec 17th and Feb 18th I worked all of two four-day trips.
It varies.

If you want a "standard", Four days on, three days off with vacations and training events and month to month integrations...

rickair7777

Assuming you're not a military pilot...

You'll be starting in the regionals.

Initially reserve will be 5-6 days on, 2-3 days off (8-10 days off/month). Work days may involve sitting at home (if you live near your base) waiting to get called, or more likely you'll be on the road most or all of your duty days...all regionals are short-handed these days.

Once you get some seniority, you'll hold a line but work all weekends & holidays. Eventually if stick it out long enough (anywhere from 2 months to 20 years depending on airline and location) you'll have weekends and holidays off, typically 4 on, 3 off (used to be 4 on, 4 off )

Most bases have a mix of multi-day trips, locals, and CDO's. If you live in base you may prefer locals and CDO's (aka standups) or maybe 2-days. If you commute you'll probably prefer 4-days.

tomgoodman

And then you will probably bid a higher-paying seat and be junior again, working weekends and holidays (even though you promised yourself you wouldn't do that).